iOS 11.3 has hit beta and with it, its data has been scoured to reveal the prospect of an updated iPad with Face ID technology. Despite not being present in the current beta, Apple has also confirmed that iOS 11.3 will include the option to turn off its controversial throttling.
It’s possible that Apple could be working on a brand new iPad with similar features to that of the iPhone X. Spotted by Felipe Esposito of iHelp, iOS 11.3 includes multiple strings of code that make reference to a “modern iPad.”
9to5Mac delves deeper into this seemingly shallow piece of information, drawing attention to it using the same prefix that the codename for the iPhone X utilised when differentiating itself from older iPhone hardware.
“The ‘modern' reference is used to distinguish between hardware with iPhone 8 and earlier hardware versus iPhone X hardware with the difference being Touch ID versus Face ID,” explains website.
Yep, there’s definitely some references to a “Modern iPad” inside iOS 11.3. pic.twitter.com/JHHone2R1D
— Filipe Espósito (@filipekids) January 25, 2018
Apple has yet to confirm the existence of a new iPad in the works, but it isn’t the least bit surprising that the company is planning on expanding its line-up with one of the flagship features. Face ID is expected to be a part of rumoured iPhone 9 and iPhone 11 designs, also.
There are no guarantees as to what a new iPad might include, but improved hardware is almost a guarantee, as well as the controversial notch in the top-centre that Apple is reportedly continuing to market itself by. Face ID is expected to take over the Touch ID entirely, allowing the display to take up the majority of the front-facing surface.
OLED panels are expected to be given a miss on a display the size of an iPad due to constraints on the technical and financial side, but the company is still expected to continue using the premium technology on its top-end flagship smartphones.
Finally, in an effort to quell controversy surrounding Apple’s throttling solution to battery degradation, iOS users will soon be able to “see if the power management feature that dynamically manages maximum performance to prevent unexpected shutdowns, first introduced in iOS 10.2.1, is on and can choose to turn it off” when iOS 11.3 launches this spring.
KitGuru Says: With rumours flying around about the company’s new 2018 line-up of smartphones, it was only a matter of time before its other devices started cropping up with refreshes of their own. Do you like the idea of a new bezel-less iPad? What are your thoughts on Apple finally giving its users the ability to choose whether or not their devices are throttled for the sake of battery life?